Business news from the world rail freight market.
Dynamic testing of trains formed from flatcars and hauled by Wabtec ES44AC diesel locos started in late February on the 1 554 km Tren Maya line serving Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. The line opened for passenger services in early 2025, and freight operations are expected to begin by late 2026 once the terminals and supporting infrastructure are completed.
FS Logistix company TX Logistik has launched its longest rail service, a weekly block train for Finnish logistics company Nurminen Logistics running 2 500 km between Castelguelfo in northern Italy and Frövi in central Sweden. The train primarily transports containers loaded with food, beverages, tiles, pulp, wood, paper and steel. ‘A roughly two- to three-day transit time offers a fast and substantially lower-emission alternative to long-haul road transport’ said Nurminen Logistics CEO Olli Pohjanvirta. ‘By combining a dedicated block train with the flexibility to handle part-load shipments, we can provide reliable, efficient and low-emission transport to an even broader customer base, including the retail industry.’
The Freight on Rail Group of nine rail freight businesses has welcomed the Australian government’s ongoing engagement with industry on fuel security and the appointment of a Fuel Supply Taskforce Co-ordinator. On March 19 FORG said there is currently an adequate fuel supply and no immediate impacts on rail, but global fuel markets are evolving rapidly and the situation in the Middle East underlines the importance of continued forward planning to protect essential services. FORG said the rail industry stands ready to assist government by rapidly adding capacity on key east-west and east coast corridors, allowing freight to shift from road to rail, reducing diesel consumption and strengthening supply chain resilience.
Long-standing user Breedon Group has agreed a further 15-year lease of 72 JPA powder cement tank wagons from VTG Rail UK. All will be retrofitted with VTG’s iWagon technology providing data-driven insights into wagon safety and performance.
Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has announced the allocation of US$100m for the production of 1 350 wagons, and tasked domestic suppliers with increasing production capacity by 150%.
Train operator ŽRS in Bosnia & Herzegovina is facing a 60% drop in freight revenues following the suspension of iron ore deliveries from the Omarska mine to the Zenica steelworks, which filed for bankruptcy in February. The steelworks handled 1·4 million tonnes of iron ore annually, generating an estimated €9·7m in revenue for ŽRS. The situation has been further aggravated by the earlier closure of the Lukavac coke plant, which had already reduced revenues by about €2·6m/year. ŽRS management has called for urgent measures to ensure the long-term sustainability of the railway system.
The 14th International Heavy Haul Association Conference is to be held in Perth on June 21–24 2027, with a theme of ‘World-Class Performance: Driving Innovation in Heavy Haul’. There will be an optional post-conference study tour to the Pilbara region. The Australasian Railway Association said ‘Perth is a natural stage for IHHA 2027, anchored in a region that leads the world in heavy haul operations. From autonomous train systems to predictive maintenance powered by AI, Australian operators continue to pioneer technology-driven solutions that set global benchmarks in efficiency, safety, and environmental performance.’
Hupac Group has ordered two CZ Loko EffiShunter 1000 locomotives for use at the Busto Arsizio-Gallarate intermodal terminal northwest of Milano, and has an option for two more.
AP Moller-Maersk is to establish a dry port at East-West Intermodal Logistics’ Fényeslitke intermodal terminal, with some functions traditionally carried out in seaports moved to the site in eastern Hungary near the Ukrainian border. Trains to the terminal currently operate according to market demand, pending the launch of regular services.